The Indian automotive retail sales has grown 13 percent YoY with 29.6 million vehicles sold across segments in FY2026, as compared to 26.1 million units a year ago. Barring the construction equipment segment (-12 percent YoY), all segments clocked a healthy double-digit growth as per the latest data shared by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA India).

Sales data for March 2026 points out to a robust 25.28 percent YoY growth with 2.69 million vehicles sold, as compared to 2.14 million units sold a year ago. The growth was seen across the two-wheeler segment (+28.69 percent YoY), three-wheelers (+10.52 percent YoY), passenger vehicle (+21.48 percent YoY), tractor (+10.87 percent YoY) and commercial vehicle (+15.12 percent YoY).

On the other hand, the e-rickshaw (passenger) and construction equipment industry reported a negative growth of 19.73 percent YoY and 16.17 percent YoY, respectively.

For FY2026, the two-wheeler sales came at 21.4 million units, an uptick of 13 percent YoY, as compared to 18.8 million units sold a year ago. Three-wheeler sales came at 1.36 million, up 12 percent YoY, as compared to 1.22 million units sold a year ago.

Interestingly, passenger vehicle sales grew by 13 percent YoY with 4.7 million units sold, as compared to 4.16 million units sold in FY2025. The tractor industry surpassed 1 million units with 1.05 million sold up 19 percent YoY, as compared to 882,825 units sold last year.  

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said: “FY 2025-26 has been a landmark year for Indian auto retail — delivering an all-time high of 2,96,71,064 units with a broad-based 13.30 percent YoY growth that saw 5 of 6 vehicle categories set new annual records. This is not just a number — it represents the industry approaching the 3-crore mark, a milestone that would have seemed distant just two years ago. What makes this year particularly significant is that the growth was structurally sound, underpinned by improving affordability, widening mobility demand across urban and rural India, and a diversifying powertrain mix.”

He further pointed out that the sales performance for the year was not linear. “The first five months (April through August) were a period of measured momentum, with monthly growth ranging between 2 percent and 5 percent as the market navigated residual caution from the previous year’s sluggish inventory cycle, selective financing constraints and consumer wait-and-watch behaviour in anticipation of policy clarity. During this phase, enquiries remained tentative, conversions stayed uneven and the dealer community exercised understandable restraint,” he explained.

GST Rationalisation 

The FADA president highlights that the turning point arrived in September with the implementation of GST 2.0, which meaningfully reduced the effective tax burden on mass-segment two-wheelers, small cars, three-wheelers and select commercial categories – improved real affordability at a time when the consumer was already positioned to respond.

“From September onwards, we witnessed a clear inflection: the festive convergence of Navratri and Diwali in October delivered an all-time record monthly retail of over 4 million units, and the momentum carried through the remainder of the year. January, February, and March 2026 each registered strong double-digit YoY growth, validating that the upshift was not merely festive but structural,” he said.

The retail sales highlights in FY2026 for the automotive industry include – two-wheeler retails reaching pre-pandemic peaks. Passenger vehicles crossed the 4.7-million mark for the first time, growing by 13 percent. This was supported by a shift towards SUVs and alternative powertrains.

Tractor sales at record high surpassing million-unit mark for the first time due to a strong monsoon and improved farm economics.

Commercial vehicles too surpassed the million-unit mark with 11.74 percent growth, led by infrastructure demand.

Three-wheelers set a third consecutive annual record with 11.68 percent growth, where electric vehicle (EV) penetration now exceeds 60 percent.

The shift towards cleaner energy deepened throughout the year. Total EV retails reached 2.45 million units, a 24.63 percent expansion. EV market share rose to 6.54 percent in two-wheelers and 4.25 percent in passenger vehicles. CNG also strengthened its position, accounting for 21.98 percent of PV sales.

Inventory management for passenger vehicles improved, with stock levels correcting from over 50 days to approximately 28 days by March 2026. This healthily aligns wholesale dispatches with actual ground demand.

Outlook and Risks

The auto retailer body has maintained a cautiously positive outlook for FY2027, with 74.72 percent of dealers expecting growth for the full year. However, the industry is monitoring risks including the geopolitical situation in West Asia, which has caused supply disruptions for 53.2 percent of dealers. Rising fuel prices and potential logistics delays remain primary concerns for the near term.

FADA hence remains constructively cautious — structurally optimistic but operationally watchful for the next three months.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra Group has announced the appointment of Purnima Lamba as its new Chief Brand Officer, effective 1 September 2026.

In this role, Lamba will shape and steward the corporate brand and communications strategy for the Group. She will lead the development and execution of a brand narrative aligned with the values, vision and business ambitions of the organisation.

Her responsibilities include overseeing brand consistency across business verticals, ensuring alignment with the identity of the Group and driving initiatives that enhance brand salience across traditional and digital ecosystems.

Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “We are pleased to welcome Purnima Lamba as Chief Brand Officer. Her global experience, strategic thinking, bold creativity and deep consumer insight make her an ideal leader to further strengthen the Mahindra brand. As we continue to build a compelling brand narrative aligned with our values, vision and business ambitions, Purnima’s ability to elevate brands, inspire teams and translate insights into impact will be invaluable. I wish her the very best in this key leadership role.”

Lamba joins the Group after a career spanning 25 years at Unilever, where she held leadership roles across India, the UK and the Netherlands. She has experience in building tech-enabled beauty experiences and digital media models.

She holds a BSc and MSc in Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her background includes work across various beauty brands.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Maruti Suzuki India has established a state-of-the-art Smart Factory Lab at the Government Polytechnic College in Lucknow. The initiative, launched under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, is designed to train approximately 400 diploma students in its inaugural year, bridging the gap between academic theory and shop-floor engineering.

The Lucknow facility is part of a broader educational upgrade across the country, wherein Maruti Suzuki has deployed Smart Factory Labs across four selected government institutions:

• Government Polytechnic College, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
• Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology (IERT), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
• Government Polytechnic, Ambala (Haryana)
• Government Polytechnic, Nilokheri (Haryana)

During the inauguration ceremony in Lucknow, Maruti Suzuki also awarded merit-based scholarships to five top-performing students to encourage academic excellence.

The Smart Factory Labs are engineered to replicate modern industrial settings, transitioning students from traditional mechanical coursework into digitised production ecosystems. The facilities provide hands-on training with several industry-standard systems – Industry 4.0 & Industrial IoT (IIoT), Automation & Motion Control, Pneumatics & Fluid Power and Energy Measurement Infrastructure.

Under the guidance of Maruti Suzuki technical experts, the curriculum emphasises experiential learning, machinery operations, diagnostics and modern shop-floor safety workflows.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Skill development is a core pillar of Maruti Suzuki’s CSR initiative. By upgrading facilities into Smart Factory Labs, we are building future-ready professionals in alignment with the Government of India’s Skill India mission. These labs will provide experiential learning opportunities to meet the evolving needs of the manufacturing sector, minimise the skill gap, and instil confidence in students in using industry-specific equipment’s.”

“Alongside upgrading facilities at Government colleges, Maruti Suzuki has also set up four Japan India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM), a collaboration between the governments of Japan and India. JIMs impart advanced manufacturing techniques, hands-on learning, and efficient shop-floor management practices based on Japanese manufacturing principles and soft skills required to make students industry-ready,” he further added.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced a landmark three-year partnership with the Tennis Premier League (TPL), coming on board as the league's Exclusive Sponsor.

The multi-year agreement integrates the automaker across the entire TPL ecosystem, including its digital application and all eight franchise teams as the front-of-jersey sponsor.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for the homegrown league, which broadcasts live on Jio Hotstar and has completed 7 seasons under the auspices of the All India Tennis Association (AITA).

The event is backed by Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, alongside celebrity franchise co-owners Sonali Bendre Behl (Lucknow Blazers) and Rakul Preet Singh (Hyderabad Strikers). The league has established itself as an impactful non-cricket sporting property in India.

A core focus of the multi-year deal is the expansion of TPL’s grassroots and talent-identification infrastructure. Over the past two years, the league’s flagship ‘Race to Gold Scholarship’ initiative has provided developmental support to more than 80 young tennis players across the country.

With Kia India’s financial backing and resources, the program plans to empower an additional 120-plus young athletes in the coming years. The long-term objective of this sustained investment is to nurture Olympic-level talent capable of competing at the 2036 Olympic Games.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, we believe sports have the power to inspire aspirations and create meaningful cultural connections. Tennis, with its youthful energy, global appeal, and premium character, strongly resonates with our brand philosophy. Our partnership with Tennis Premier League reflects a shared vision to make tennis more engaging and relevant for a new generation of audiences in India. Through TPL’s growing ecosystem and grassroots focus, we look forward to supporting greater participation, engagement, and talent development around the sport.”

Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, added, "This partnership with Kia India is a great moment for us. Over the last few years, we have focused deeply on building a strong grassroots ecosystem through our app and initiatives like Race to Gold along with our League. Having a global brand like Kia India recognize and back this vision gives us the confidence to scale our efforts and truly impact the future of Indian tennis."

Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, stated, "TPL has always believed in creating a complete tennis ecosystem—from identifying young talent to giving them a platform at the highest level. With Kia India coming on board, we are not just adding a sponsor; we are gaining a long-term partner who shares our vision of building champions for India."

Leander Paes, 18-time Grand Slam Champion, remarked, “Over the years, Tennis Premier League has created a strong platform that is helping tennis grow at every level – from grassroots development to professional competition. Partnerships like this with Kia India is extremely important for the future of Indian tennis, as they bring long-term vision, credibility, and meaningful support to the ecosystem.”

The alliance links Kia's global sports portfolio, which includes a 25-year legacy as the major partner of the Australian Open, with India's emerging contemporary sports culture.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Caterham has unveiled a new limited-edition model, the Seven Nürburgring Edition, marking a century of the famous German circuit widely regarded as the world’s most demanding race track. Production will be strictly limited to just 100 units globally, with customers able to choose between the Seven 420R or Seven 340R platforms depending on their market. Pricing in the United Kingdom starts at GBP 48,995 (approximately USD 65,690) including VAT.

Engineered specifically for the challenges of the Nürburgring, the car features a bespoke race suspension developed exclusively by Bilstein using its advanced vertical dynamics test rig. The setup was refined to deliver exceptional capability on both road and track, resulting in a tailored package unique to this edition. Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre Ford Duratec engine producing 210 brake horsepower at 7,600 rpm, giving a power-to-weight ratio of 375 bhp per tonne. Paired with a five-speed gearbox, the Seven Nürburgring Edition sprints from zero to 60 miles (approximately 96 km) per hour in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 136 miles (approximately 219 km) per hour.

As a fully licensed Nürburgring product, the car incorporates distinctive circuit branding and logos, along with three available paint finishes named Traffic Red, Agate Grey and Basalt Grey, though custom colours are also offered. Exterior upgrades include a red track day roll bar, a mesh grille with a dual-colour Seven logo, a 620-style nosecone with carbon aero whiskers, a Gunmetal Grey chassis, carbon front wings and a Black Pack comprising a black windscreen, headlamp bowls and exhaust heat shield. Inside, leather seats feature Nürburgring embroidery and red stitching, echoed on the transmission tunnel, while carbon interior panels, four-point road harnesses, sequential shift lights and an individually numbered plaque for each of the 100 cars complete the package.

For a century, the 12.9-mile circuit in Germany’s Eifel Mountains, nicknamed the Green Hell, has served as the ultimate proving ground for cars and drivers with its changing elevation and 73 corners. Caterham has flourished there for decades, most notably achieving an 11th place finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2002 driven by Chris Cooper, Chris Harris, Clive Richards and Peter Haynes.

Trevor Steel, Senior Vice President – Operations, Caterham Cars, said, “For a century, this track has championed values that are at the heart of what the Seven is all about – balance, precision and an unmatched driving experience. We set out to capture the spirit of the ‘Ring, with every element of the car being honed to reflect the track’s unique demands and character. Designed both for use on the track and the road, the Seven Nürburgring Edition is a unique vehicle that perfectly pays tribute to this famous, globally renowned circuit.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!